Vitamin B12 deficiency. Causes, symptoms and treatment

Adequate levels of vitamin B12 have a positive effect on our entire body. Deficiency can be associated with unpleasant health consequences.

Can you recognise how your body calls for vitamin B12 supplementation? Together with nutritionist Aleksandra Cudna, we will introduce you to everything you need to know about B12 deficiency and how to deal with it in a healthy way.

The following is an overview of how to identify B12 deficiency.

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 See also:

• How to quickly supplement vitamin B12 deficiency?
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B5
• B vitamins
• Biotin
• Biotin for hair
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• Magnesium
• Best magnesium

What causes vitamin B12 deficiency? Find out the causes

Deficiency can occur when serum concentrations of vitamin B12 become too low to meet the body's requirementsand. 

Causes of deficiency:

Diet 

• poor and poorly nutritious, 
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• non-nutritious, monotonous,
• low nutritional value, 
• low nutritional value.
• low in calories,
• vegetarian or vegetarian food,
• poor in nutrition,
• low in calories.
• vegan or vegetarian,
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• large amount of alcohol,
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Disorders of absorption

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• stomach diseases (e.g. gastritis),
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• inherited intrinsic factor deficiency (the vitamin has nothing to bind to, so it is not absorbed),
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• diseases of the small intestine (e.g. Crohn's disease, cancer),
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• celiac disease,
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• inherited malabsorption,
• inherited malabsorption,
• inherited malabsorption.
• increased consumption by bacteria (bacterial overgrowth syndrome SIBO),
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• infection with tapeworms,
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Medication intake

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Simultaneous use of the following substances impairs absorption of vitamin B12and:

• drugs that reduce gastric acid secretion,
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• methformin (antidiabetic drug),
• methformin (antidiabetic drug).
• contraception hormonaland,
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• aminosalicylic acid (antitubercular drug),
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• colchicine (an anti-inflammatory drug used in the prevention and treatment of gout attacks).

Are you using any of these substances? Don't worry! Your doctor may decide to change your medication or the time you take it, depending on the problems you are experiencing.

Age 60+

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In this age group, gastric and assimilationand of this vitamin are often affected. 

Immune system disorders

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• Graves-Basedow disease,
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• Addison-Biermer disease,
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• lupus,
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Megaloblastic anaemia

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Developing anaemia from a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body when it is not properly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Post-operative conditions

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• Removal of part/whole stomach,
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• bariatric surgery, 
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• removal of ileum,
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Are you at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency? Check out the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency now - sound familiar? Or maybe someone close to you has some of the symptoms?

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B12 deficiency - symptoms and effects on the body

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Vitamin B12 deficiency manifests itself on the part of many systems in the body and you may experience weakness, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbances, malaise or characteristic 'clotting', among other things.

Find out more about vitamin B12 deficiency.

Find out what to look out for in particular.

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Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:

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Nerve system: 

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• pain and dizziness,
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• weakness, muscle aches and fatigue,
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• disorders of the sensory organs, especially touch,
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• paresthesias (numbness, tingling, burning),
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• ataxia (reduced coordination of movements and trouble maintaining balance)and.
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Cardiovascular system:

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Deficiency leads to anemia (anemia) megaloblastic manifesting as:

• dizziness, 
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• blindness, 
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• spiration, 
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• weakness, 
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• fast heart rate, 
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Digestive system: 

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• constipation or diarrhea;
• loss of appetite.
• loss of appetite, nausea,
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• weight loss,
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• distaste disorder,
• disorder of taste,
• disorder of taste.
• stomatitis with ulceration and inflammationand,
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• swelling, burning and redness of the tongue, 
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Psychiatry:

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• low mood,
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• mood changes,
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• symptoms depressive symptomsand,
• anxiety,
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• concentration and memory problems;
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Emergency:

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• disorders of vision.
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skin, hair, nails:

• yellowish colour skinand,
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• breakage and hair loss,
• fracture, splitting and pigmentation changes on nails.

Libido:

• Erectile dysfunctionand as a result of increased levels of homocysteine in the body.

How to find out if I have a vitamin B12 deficiency?

You can take the test privately. It is worth buying the whole package of B vitamins at once - the price is cheaper, and you will be examined comprehensively. 

See also:

• Thyroid tests
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How to make up for vitamin B12 deficiency?

We supplemented the resulting deficiency with an individualised whole food diet combined with a vitamin B12 supplement. I can see from experience that this combination works best, and the patient very quickly stops feeling the effects of the deficiency," adds the dietician.

See: 

• How to make up vitamin B12 deficiency quickly?
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I'm vegan! How do I make sure I have adequate levels of B12?

Vegans and vegetarians often suffer from cobalamin deficienciesand. It is difficult to cover the daily requirement of this vitamin with fortified products alone. Therefore, people on a meat-free diet should additionally supplement vitamin B12 and monitor their levels. 

How can you supplement vitamin B12? You can read about this below.

Forms of administration of vitamin B12

There are plenty of over-the-counter supplements with vitamin B12 in the form of: 

• capsules, 
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• hard tablets,
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• effervescent tablets
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• drops,
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• liquids,
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• sprays,
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• gels,
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The doctor may prescribe injections with vitamin B12 by prescription . Injections intramuscular or deep subcutaneous are prescribed for :

• acute deficiencies,
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• absorption disorders,
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• pain relief (e.g. neuropathy, sciatica),
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• life and health emergencies,
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Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure what form of administration will work best for you and whether it will interfere with other medicines/supplements.

Vitamin B12 in the diet - advice from a nutritionist

Tips from an expert - how to ensure an adequate supply of B12 in your diet:

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• Diversity. Try to use a variety of zoonotic food groups on a daily basis, don't just rely on meat alone.
• Include eggs, milk and dairy products - cream cheese, cottage cheese, yoghurt, kefir - in your diet.
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• Attempt to eat fish and seafood. Steam it, make pastes, try it out!
• Cook and eat it.
• Use products fortified with vitamin B12. Nowadays, we can get fortified breakfast cereals, vegetable drinks, soy products, yeast flakes or energy bars on the market. 
• Remember to include a source of complete protein, preferably of animal origin, in each of your meals. 

Example menu - variety throughout a day of healthy eating!

To ensure adequate absorption of vitamin B12, avoid stimulants - smoking, alcohol consumption, excessive amounts of coffee.

 See also other articles on B vitamins:

• How to quickly make up a vitamin B12 deficiency?
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin B6
• Biotin
• Vitamin B9
• Vitamin B12

Summary

Vitamin B12 deficiency can have deplorable consequences as it has a multisystemic impact on our health and wellbeing. 

With your nutritionist, we encourage you to change your eating habits and get vitamins and minerals from your diet. You may find that additional supplementation will lead to unnecessary vitamin excess or you may be spending money down the drain - because you have optimal levels.

Did you know that vitamin B12 has such versatile effects on our bodies? Did anything surprise you? Leave a comment, I'm curious - I was surprised more than once when writing the article!

I invite you to other interesting posts about vitamins and minerals.